The identity of the first American to contract the Ebola virus in the U.S has been revealed by her family. The Dallas nurse has been identified as 26-year-old Nina Pham. Along with her identity, it was also revealed that help has come to the rescue by way of a physician and Ebola survivor named Dr. Kent Brantly. WFAA reports that Dr. Brantly provided Pham with a blood transfusion Sunday night (Oct.12) at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital after being asked by the hospital. Dr. Brantly, who became ill in July while in Liberia and recovered, has provided blood transfusions to two other Ebola patients as well.
News hit over the weekend that Pham had contracted Ebola while treating the now deceased Thomas Eric Duncan, the first American diagnosed with the virus in the U.S. It is speculated that she became infected while she was removing her protective gear that she wore while treating Duncan.
Pham’s pastor, Father Jim Khoi, has told WFAA that she is in good spirits and communicating with her family through Skype.
